Sunday, June 29, 2008

I love the San Francisco Opera, but I'm always a little critical of them for not hiring better looking baritones. Other opera companies on the Left Coast seem to have no problem, most notably the Seattle Opera, San Diego Opera, Los Angeles Opera and, of course, the Sante Fe Opera (who remain in the barihunk stratosphere unchallenged).

Gabriele Viviani is an Italian baritonemaking his American debut in this production. He hails from Puccini's hometown of Lucca and regularly sings Marcello in La Boheme. So far, he has no real barihunk roles under his belt, but maybe he'll come back to SF Opera as Don Giovanni or Zurga in Pearl Fishers.

I saw the final dress rehearsal of SF Opera's Lucia di Lammermoor and my friends were all commenting about how cute tenor Andrew Bidlack was. It wasn't until I saw Lucia broadcast on the JumboTron at AT&T Park that I realized our Enrico was quite the barihunk. He does look like a little like a 70s rock star with his long, blonde hair, but who cares.

Friday, June 27, 2008

I am thrilled to announce that there is now is a counterpart to Barihunks for aficionados of higher voiced hunks. Many people have asked me to start a hunkentenor site, but I keep pretty busy with the plethora of lower voiced beauties. Had I started a site, Jonas Kaufmann would have been my first post [pictured above].

[Photos from top to bottom: Michael Todd Simpson in Figaro promotion, Simpson head shot, Daniel Okulitch, and two pictures of Paolo Pecchioli]

To hell with "Remember the Alamo." The new battle cry in Texas is "Remember to get your tickets to the Dallas Opera!"

The Dallas Opera (http://www.dallasopera.org/) is promoting their new season by using barihunk regular Michael Todd Simpson in a flaming pink banner with flaming pink flip flops. If that doesn't grab your attention then you're as blind as Archibaldo in Montemezzi's "L'amoredeitre Re." As if having the sultry Simpson stalk the stage weren't enough, they've added barihunk Daniel Okulitch to the cast. Normally, Figaro isn't as barihunky as Don Giovanni, but the open shirt on the ad may portend some skin in this production.

If Mozart isn't your cup of tea, Rossini specialist Paolo Pecchioli will be singing in L'Italiani in Algeri opposite hunkentenor William Burden. As a footnote to all of you hunkentenor lovers, Stephen Costello will be singing in their production of Roberto Devereux.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Barihunk readers should be reminded that we noticed barihunk Paulo Szot long before he took Broadway by storm. It's nice to see the world catching up. Here is the text from the blog www.AfterElton.com:

Here's some great news for theater lovers, supporters of LGBT visibility, and anyone with a weakness for a hot Brazilian gay hunk with a body carved from marble and a voice that could melt glass:

Gorgeous and talented Paulo Szot, who last week won the Best Actor in a Musical Tony for his performance in South Pacific, is an out gay man.

There had been some speculation about Szot (who was rumored to be openly gay in his native Brazil, where he is a celebrated opera singer), but not much was known about him in the States before he took the stage in Pacific. And of course the sight of him and sound of his pipes set tongues wagging and Internet speculation afire the day after the Awards. We contacted his publicist and were told that yes, he is gay, and we're welcome to say as much.

It is of course wonderful to have yet another openly gay actor winning the Best Actor trophy (last year, newly-out David Hyde Pierce took the prize in an upset win over bisexual actor Raul Esparza), a trend that we hope to see continue ... especially in stereotype-breaking, traditionally masculine roles like the one Szot plays in South Pacific. And folks hoping to snag Szot for themselves, you might be out of luck, as the handsome man who accompanied him is rumored to be the "Eduardo" that he thanked in his acceptance speech, and he may be spoken for.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Riley is a recent graduate of the University of British Columbia opera program. While there, he performed in Manon, Die Zauberflote, The Merry Widow, The Bartered Bride and Gianni Schicci. He also sang with the ensemble in several European tours to the Czech Republic and Germany.

Riley sang the lead role in the world premiere of George Ryan's opera "The Ghost in the Turret" heard on CBC radio. Riley has also participated in numerous seasons on Opera Nuova's summer opera programme performing the Vicar in Britten's opera Albert Herring.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

It looks like Neptune is carrying two big spears in the bottom photo. Stunning barihunk Curtis Sullivan sings primarily in Canada, but made his debut with the San Francisco Opera alongside barihunk Bo Skovhus in The Merry Widow. He may be the first singer to turn Mozart's Idomeneo into a barihunk opera.

Other barihunk operas that he's performed in are the Magic Flute, Carmen and A Midsummer Night's Dream. We look forward to seeing much more of this singer...much, much more.

Polish barichunk Mikolaj Zalasinski seems to enjoy singing in various stages of undress. Above are photos of him as Jokanaan in Salome in his Depends and in his birthday suit as Don Giovanni. The latter role has become his calling card role and he's sung it in Vienna, Tokyo, Warsow, Lodz, Bytom, and Bydgoszcz. Other barichunk roles include Escamillo and Papageno.

Monday, June 9, 2008

German barihunk Philipp Sulzberger studied at the Hochschule fuer Musik in Munich, the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and at the University of Nebraska. He studied with longtime Met soprano Ariel Bybee.

It seems like Pittsburgh is joinging Sante Fe as a hotbed for barihunks, as Sulzberger has become a regular with the Pittsburgh Opera. Pittsburgh has already invited back Nathan Gunn and previously hosted Greer Grimsley and Michael Todd Simpson, all of whom can be seen on this blog. Sulzberger's barihunk roles thus far are Escamillo and Papageno.

Monday, June 2, 2008

California native Christopher Johnstone’s career took off when he was cast in the uber-sexy production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, choreographed by Mark Morris at Tanglewood.

Johnstone studied voice at Arizona State University, was offered a slot at the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory Opera Program in Italy, partook in the Glimmerglass Opera Young American Artists Program and now has landed roles with Opera Pacific in Costa Mesa and the San Diego Opera.

The great thing about Google analytics is I can see who Barihunks readers think is hot. Right now it seems to be Franco Pomponi, so feast your eyes on these pictures from his website (www.francopomponi.com). The homoerotic pictures are with German tenor Rainer Trost from a production of Henze's "The Bassarids." Everything else is just Pomponi & Circumstance, so enjoy.

BARIHUNK BIRTHDAY MARCH 21

Marco Vassalli sings Tosti's "Marecchiare"

THE BARIHUNKS MISSION

1. To promote the baritone to bass voice range, especially emerging talent.2. To financially assist singers and promote opera through the sale of our calendar and tee shirts. 3. To make opera competitive with television and movies, by making it appealing to new audiences. 4. To promote good health and self-esteem. A great voice coupled with a healthy life-style prolongs careers.5. Keep opera positive! No bitchiness allowed! This industry is tough enough.

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BARIHUNK: This site is dedicated to any hunk who sings in the baritone and bass/baritone range. Singers must be professional, semi-professional or serious students with real potential.